What Vertas Group does

Vertas Group Limited is one of the fastest-growing multi-service facilities management companies in Great Britain, headquartered in Ipswich and operating as the wholly owned commercial trading arm of Suffolk County Council via Suffolk Group Holdings Limited. The group delivers cleaning, catering, security, grounds maintenance, landscape design, energy management, property management, passenger transport, courier and postal, reception/concierge, swimming, recruitment, design/property consultancy, and meal-delivery services through 19+ service lines and sub-brands including Churchill Catering, Concertus Design and Property Consultants, Opus People Solutions, Schools' Choice, Oakpark Security, County Enterprise Foods, Verse, Eats, Vive, Vertas Nottinghamshire Limited and Opus Teach. Service delivery is via a directly employed workforce of ~5,000 colleagues across 400+ school sites, 550+ grounds contracts, and commercial and public-sector customers in England, Scotland and Wales, supported by joint ventures with Derbyshire County Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.

The company runs an enterprise field-sales go-to-market, competing for multi-year public-sector tenders and frame agreements primarily with schools, academies, councils and commercial buyers, leveraging strategic local-authority partnerships, events, and a sub-brand portfolio to address different segments under one parent. Revenue is generated from managed-services contracts (cleaning, catering, grounds, transport, security), professional-services fees (design and recruitment), fixed-per-meal subscription-style delivery (£5.82/meal for County Enterprise Foods), and annual subscription property-management packages priced per site. The operating technology stack is largely IoT- and platform-based rather than AI-driven — ionised-water cleaning, washroom footfall monitoring, PDA-enabled window-cleaning workflows, the Sigma energy budget-forecasting tool, and the Workvivo employee engagement platform — with certifications across ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 50001 and 22000 underpinning procurement eligibility. Customer concentration is anchored on long-tenure anchor relationships with Suffolk County Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Forestry England, and multiple multi-academy trusts, with public sector as the dominant segment.

Name

Vertas Group

Legal name

Vertas Group Limited

Website

https://vertas.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Vertas Group is a UK council-owned integrated facilities management company delivering cleaning, catering, security, grounds, property, transport, energy, recruitment and design services to over 400 schools, local councils, and commercial clients across England, Scotland and Wales via a ~5,000-strong directly employed workforce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Integrated Facilities Management Services

NAICS

All Other Business Support Services (561499), Caterers (72232), Food Service Contractors (722310)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Miscellaneous Business Services (7380)

akta.pro primary industry

Amenity & Vendor Coordination (Catering, Dry Cleaning, Repairs Scheduling) (BPABAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Office Services & Supplies Management (Stationery, Inventory, Vendor Coordination) (IMAIALAH), Meeting & Events Support Services (Room Setup, AV Coordination, Hospitality) (IMAIALAE), Catering Coordination & Bar Service Management (Non-restaurant) (HSACAAAH), VIP/Executive Travel Desk & Concierge (Corporate) (THAKACAI)

Keywords

• Integrated facilities management
• Contract cleaning services
• Contract catering services
• Education catering meals
• Property management consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Ipswich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Integrated Facilities Management Contracts: Long-term contracts with public sector organisations (schools, councils) and commercial businesses delivering bundled FM services including cleaning, catering, grounds, security, property management, and more. Revenue is recurring based on contracted service delivery.
2. Design and Property Consultancy: Concertus provides multi-disciplinary design and property consultancy services across specialisms including architecture, interior design, and property consultancy for public and private sector clients. Revenue from project-based professional services.
3. Recruitment Solutions: Opus People Solutions provides recruitment services across public and private sectors, including master vendor MSP solutions, social work, business support, residential care, and professional/technical roles. Operates as both agency and managed service provider.
4. Education Catering: Catering services to over 400 school sites providing grounds design and maintenance, cleaning services and locally produced nutritional meals. Revenue generated through school meal contracts.
5. Meal Delivery Service (County Enterprise Foods): Freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced meals delivered to homes across Nottinghamshire at £5.82 per meal. Also offers breakfast and tea-time snacks. Supports independent living for vulnerable customers.
6. Contract Catering (Churchill Catering): Contract catering services to police forces, business & industry, tourism & leisure, and care homes. Customised dining solutions and café management across multiple sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Vertas Group delivers integrated facilities management services to public sector and commercial clients across Great Britain, bundling cleaning, catering, security, grounds maintenance, property management, energy management, passenger transport, courier services, reception/concierge, design consultancy, and recruitment under a single provider. Its portfolio spans school catering brands (Eats, Vive), contract catering (Churchill Catering), residential meal delivery (County Enterprise Foods), security (Oakpark), property consultancy (Concertus), and recruitment (Opus People Solutions), supported by joint ventures with local authorities such as Suffolk County Council and Derbyshire County Council.

Product overview

Vertas Group operates as a multi-service integrated facilities management company offering a comprehensive portfolio of 19+ distinct services and sub-brands. The core services include Cleaning, Catering (under Churchill Catering and Education Catering sub-brands including Eats and Vive), Security (including Oakpark Security), Energy Management, Environmental Services, Education Management (Schools' Choice), Property Management, Grounds Services, Landscape Services, Passenger Transport, Courier and Postal, Reception & Concierge, Swimming Services, Recruitment (Opus People Solutions), Design and Property Consultancy (Concertus), County Enterprise Foods, and Health and Safety Services. The company provides these services across commercial, education, healthcare, and public sector environments throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, serving over 400 school sites and operating under the parent company Suffolk Group Holdings Limited.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Concertus Design and Property Consultants: Multi-disciplinary design and property consultancy providing innovative solutions for clients across various specialisms.
• Opus People Solutions
• Churchill Catering
• Schools' Choice
• Oakpark Security
• County Enterprise Foods
• Eats
• Vive
• Verse
• Opus Teach
• Vertas Nottinghamshire Limited

Products and services

• Cleaning
• Contract Catering (Churchill Catering)
• Education Catering (Eats, Vive)
• Security (Oakpark Security)
• Energy Management
• Environmental Services
• Education Management (Schools' Choice)
• Property Management
• Grounds Services
• Landscape Services
• Passenger Transport
• Courier and Postal
• Reception & Concierge
• Swimming Services
• Recruitment Solutions (Opus People Solutions / Opus Teach)
• Design and Property Consultancy (Concertus)
• County Enterprise Foods (Meal Delivery)
• Health and Safety Services

Quantifiable outcome

• £56.3 million social value generated in 2025/26
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• HapiminorOthers · 1 January 2026Employee benefits partnership providing colleagues with hundreds of discounts and savings across retail, travel, leisure and essential spending.
• Spark (Legal & General Group Protection)minorOthers · 1 January 2026New wellbeing provider offering 24/7 access to GP appointments, physiotherapy, long term condition support, mental health resources, second medical opinions and wellbeing guidance for colleagues and their families.
• Suffolk Group Holdings LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Parent company and wholly owned subsidiary of Suffolk County Council. As of 1st April 2022, Vertas Group Limited, Concertus Design and Property Consultants Limited and Opus People Solutions Limited began work under one leadership structure whilst keeping their individual brands and identity.
• Derbyshire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Joint venture partnership commenced November 2020 providing design and property consultancy services to Derbyshire County Council. Concertus Director of joint venture companies with Derbyshire County Council. Services extended to over 400 schools, county council buildings including libraries, youth centres, tourist attractions and countryside sites.
• Concertus Design and Property Consultants LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Part of Vertas Group since 2015. Multi-disciplinary design and property consultancy working across numerous specialisms providing innovative solutions for clients. Offices in Ipswich, Suffolk and Matlock, Derbyshire.
• Opus People Solutions LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Part of Vertas Group since 2015. Dynamic, innovative recruitment service providing high quality, cost effective recruitment solutions to public and private sectors through streamlined, collaborative and transparent approach.
• VerseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Subsidiary brand within Vertas Group portfolio.
• Nottinghamshire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Nottinghamshire County Council for school meals provision. Vertas Nottinghamshire Limited operates in partnership with the council to provide catering to pupils across Nottinghamshire.
• Oakpark Security Systems LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary company within Vertas Group providing security services. Head of Oakpark Security: Adam Buffery.
• Schools' ChoiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary brand within Vertas Group offering education management and school support services. Works closely with schools and academies to develop bespoke packages across all phases of learning.
• Churchill CateringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally trusted name in contract catering, part of Vertas Group. Specialising in delivering tailored, high-quality contract catering solutions across multiple sectors including police forces, business & industry, tourism & leisure, and care homes.
• EatsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the East of England's largest primary school food services. Believes school catering should be integral to school life and learning. Menus meet Food for Life Silver award criteria.
• ViveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh school and further education catering brand. Tried and tested by students, ever evolving to replicate food innovation and high street trends.
• Opus TeachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupply teaching business launched by Opus People Solutions. Education recruitment partner offering temporary recruitment solutions with trusted education professionals.
• BidfoodminorOthersTrusted supplier providing high-quality ingredients for Christmas dinner service across East Anglia schools.
• Accent FreshminorOthersSustainable supply chain partner providing fresh ingredients for school meals. Supplier committed to achieving Net Zero GHG emissions.
• Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT UK)minorOthersVertas Passenger Transport team is a proud member of the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK, the leading trade body for the bus and coach industry.
• Local farmers and suppliers (Nottinghamshire)minorOthersCounty Enterprise Foods sources 95% of produce locally from within Nottinghamshire, supporting local farmers and ensuring fresh ingredients every day.

Scale indicators30 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Atalian Servest: Privately held UK and international FM group providing cleaning, catering, security, grounds and energy services. Directly comparable multi-service FM model serving public and commercial clients.
• Elior UK: UK contract catering and FM operator with strong presence in education (school meals), workplaces and care homes. Comparable to Vertas's Eats, Vive and Churchill Catering sub-brands.
• Baxter Storey: UK independent contract caterer serving workplaces, education and visitor attractions. Closely comparable to Vertas's Churchill Catering and education catering brands.
• OCS Group: Privately held UK-headquartered FM group providing cleaning, catering, security and support services. Direct competitor across Vertas's core service lines, including UK education and public sector contracts.
• Mitie Group: UK-listed integrated facilities management company offering cleaning, security, catering, energy and property services to public and commercial clients. Closest comparable in scale, service mix and UK public sector focus.
• G4S / Allied Universal (UK): Major UK security and FM services provider. Directly comparable to Vertas's Oakpark Security and integrated FM offering, particularly for public sector and education clients.

Broad incumbents

• Serco Group: UK-listed public services outsourcer with extensive central and local government contracts. Competes with Vertas for outsourced council services and shares a public-sector heritage.
• ISS A/S (UK): Global facility services provider with significant UK operations across cleaning, catering, security and property services. Comparable integrated FM competitor in the public and commercial segments.
• Compass Group UK & Ireland: Largest UK contract caterer and broader FM operator. Particularly comparable to Vertas's Churchill Catering and education catering (Eats/Vive) sub-brands, with overlapping education and public sector exposure.
• Sodexo UK & Ireland: Global FM and food services major with significant UK schools, universities and government contracts. Comparable to Vertas across catering, cleaning, security and integrated FM in the public sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VertasGroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/VertasFM

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vertas Group